UAlbany, Borough of Manhattan Community College Launch Dual Admission Program

ALBANY, N.Y. (Jan. 8, 2024) — The University at Albany and the Borough of Manhattan Community College have launched a dual admission program that will enable BMCC students to seamlessly continue their academic careers at UAlbany after completing their associate degrees.

Prospective students can indicate their interest in enrolling in the program as part of their application to BMCC, a community college in the City University of New York system. Once admitted, students who complete an applicable Associate of Arts, Associate of Science or Associate in Applied Science degree and earn a minimum 2.5 grade point average will be guaranteed admission to UAlbany with junior year status. 

The program was formally announced Monday at a signing event hosted at BMCC’s main campus in downtown Manhattan. More information is available on the UAlbany-BMCC Dual Admission site. 

“‘Start Here. Go Anywhere’ is not just a slogan, they are words that truly capture the essence of BMCC,” said BMCC President Anthony E. Munroe. “I am thrilled to have this partnership agreement with UAlbany. It gives BMCC graduates the opportunity to further their education at a preeminent R1 research university and opens the doors to endless possibilities for them to climb the ladder to success. I am thrilled to join UAlbany and SUNY in this collaborative effort and look forward to a longstanding relationship.”

“I am so pleased to have this agreement in place between UAlbany and the Borough of Manhattan Community College,” said UAlbany President Havidán Rodríguez. “This partnership will make the transition to UAlbany seamless for BMCC graduates and will also establish supports like peer mentorship to ensure their success. Strengthening transfer pathways is a core priority for SUNY and UAlbany and I am proud to partner with my colleagues at CUNY and BMCC on this initiative. I look forward to BMCC graduates unleashing their potential at UAlbany.”

Achieving seamless transfer 

The dual admission program comes as SUNY is leveraging a $75 million Transformation Fund to award grants to expand or launch joint/automatic admissions programs for students between community colleges and bachelor's degree-granting institutions. UAlbany is leveraging its share of that funding to develop new agreements with several SUNY community colleges. SUNY has identified seamless transfer options that help students more easily continue and complete their academic careers as a high priority.

As part of the program, students can apply to UAlbany during the regular admissions process to BMCC, or after their first semester at BMCC. The application fee to UAlbany will be waived. 

Currently, 423 UAlbany students list Manhattan as their home address, and New York County was the second-largest source of undergraduate applications at UAlbany for fall 2023, trailing only Kings County (Brooklyn).

Once admitted, UAlbany will establish early communication with students to offer information and guidance in the areas of admissions, financial aid, academic advising and more. Students also will be assigned a UAlbany transfer transition peer mentor who will assist them prior to their arrival on campus. 

Scholarships and other student supports

Dual admit students also will receive a UAlbany identification card, have access to UAlbany events and programs, and the ability to enroll in a UAlbany First-Year Experience course taught by UAlbany faculty/staff. Students may also take a cross-registered course in their program of study on campus at UAlbany in their second or third semester at BMCC.  

Each semester, BMCC will provide UAlbany’s undergraduate admissions office with current contact information and transcripts for jointly admitted students. UAlbany will evaluate transfer credits on an ongoing basis. 

Dual admit students who complete their BMCC degree requirements with a GPA of 3.0 or higher will be guaranteed a UAlbany Transfer Merit Scholarship. Students are also eligible for other financial aid benefits and considerations.  

“This dual admission agreement commits BMCC and UAlbany to a truly seamless transfer for our students,” said UAlbany Vice President for Student Affairs Michael Christakis. “By exposing dually admitted students to UAlbany services and supports while they are still enrolled at BMCC, their path to a four-year degree becomes significantly smoother, allowing them to keep their full focus on attaining their UAlbany degree.”